Jacques Smith already has a summer job, one that allows him to put a little money in his pocket before turning his attention to his senior season with the Ooltewah High School football program. But Smith also has taken on the added chore of an unofficial recruiter for the University of Tennessee, hoping to help the Vols pocket a few more prep All-Americans.
So Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive took his football coaches to the woodshed, did he? Threw all 5-9, 170 pounds of himself into every word he said — Slive’s description — did he? Basically said that membership in the SEC is as much responsibility as privilege.
One of the good things about being 6-foot-7 and 340 pounds is that you don’t have to tiptoe around questions. So when former Howard star and current Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Terdell Sands is asked to speak his mind on any subject, he doesn’t worry about being politically correct or whose feelings he’s going to hurt.
As to precisely what was said between new Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin and departing quarterback B.J. Coleman during their closed-door meeting Thursday, Coleman is taking the high road.
KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee’s Fan Day was still two hours away, which meant the Orange and White spring game was still nearly six hours from kickoff. Since this was a Saturday, even a respectable number of roosters were likely wearing out their snooze buttons.
KNOXVILLE — This pre-Orange and White game blog excerpts a 20-minute interview with first-year University of Tennessee offensive coordinator Jim Chaney.
KNOXVILLE — This one of three pre-Orange and White game blogs is an excerpt of Thursday morning’s 20-minute interview with University of Tennessee defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.
KNOXVILLE — This one of the three pre-Orange and White game blogs is a look at the Tennessee football team’s current depth chart, which was released Thursday.
KNOXVILLE — Several of us media types were surprised two weeks ago, when coach Lane Kiffin stood at Haslam Field moments after his first University of Tennessee football practice and praised his offense’s execution.
Two weeks ago, I think most University of Tennessee men’s basketball coaches, players and fans would have taken a 3-1 record in the Volunteers’ final four regular-season games.